Maples should be allowed to run News Herald Letter To The Editor
The response by mayor and council to Earlena Maples’
desire to run for a seat on Lenoir City Council causes me great
concern. Maples is a lifelong resident of the city, yet council
argues that because she is a city employee with Lenoir City
Utilities Board, she is prohibited from running.
Each city council member and the mayor are on the
LCUB board, get paid and receive insurance and perhaps other
benefits for doing so. Is each and every member of city council an
employee of the city? Should they be prohibited from running for
re-election? How is that any different from Maples being a paid
employee of LCUB?
I find nothing in Tennessee Code Annotated or in
the Lenoir City code defining city employee. Are the members of
Lenoir City Council paid for their work as a city council member
or mayor? Are they paid by LCUB for their work on the LCUB
board? I’ve tried to find something to indicate whether there is
a distinction between an elected official and a regular employee
as it relates to the definition, but I’ve found nothing.
This matter comes before the election commission
Monday to determine if Maples’ name will be placed on the
ballot. I think the election commission should review Attorney
General Opinion 98-130 from July 27, 1998. It involves whether a
utility board employee can serve as mayor or council member in
LaFollette. The conclusion appears to me that the answer is
“yes.” They must abstain from voting on any issue that benefits
them personally, but in other matters they can vote as long as
they read a conflict of interest statement as required by TCA
12-4-101(c)(1).
If this is upheld, there are a large number of
residents within the city limits who cannot run for public
office. I wonder if Lenoir City will take this to chancery court
if the election commission allows Maples’ name to stay on the
ballot? Many Lenoir City voters are watching.
Connie L. Sledzinski
Lenoir City
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8/27/18